2 Nevada residents charged with conspiring to commit voter registration fraud in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Two Nevada residents have been federally charged with conspiring to engage in voter fraud in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday. 

According to the DOJ, Ronnie Williams, 58, and Lorraine Lee Combs, 57, Nevada residents formerly of Minnesota, have been charged with conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud. 

Starting in 2021 through 2022, Combs and Williams conspired to fill out fake names and information on Minnesota voter registration applications, the DOJ said. Both signed a form that certified they were aware that giving false information on a voter registration form is a felony that could lead to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine or both. 

According to the DOJ, the foundation would then pay Williams, and he would split it with Combs. The foundation is unnamed and referred to only as “Foundation 1” in charging documents. 

FOX 9 has reached out to the DOJ to ask why the foundation isn’t named and if the foundation is facing charges.

Timeline:

These fake voter registration applications included, on top of fake names, fake addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and social security numbers, court documents allege. 

Court documents did not say what foundation Combs and Williams worked with. 

What’s next:

Minnesota Secretary of State, federal officials react

The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State said no fraudulent ballots were cast in connection with this case. The office partnered with the FBI for over two years on the investigation. 

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon provided the following statement regarding the case: 

“Our office is deeply grateful for the dedicated election officials across the state and all of our federal partners who protected the integrity of our voter registration system.

Federal officials also reacted to the charges:

“Nothing is more central to our democracy than fair and impartially conducted elections,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Through their actions, Combs and Williams attempted to deprive the citizens of Minnesota of a secure and reliable election process. Along with our partners, the FBI will stop at nothing to identify and bring to justice anyone who threatens the security of our electoral system.”